"Questions need to be answered" or "questions require to be answered"? [closed]

"Need" is often used on living things, whereas "required" is often used on non-living things.

For example:

• I need a stereo for my car.
• My car requires a stereo.

But when it goes to "question", we often use "need" instead of "require"...I am not sure why this is happening as "question" should be obviously considered as a non-living thing. Therefore, I am wondering which one should be a better choice while writing an analytical essay.

Several questions need to be answered.

Several questions require to be answered.

There is no such usage rule; it doesn't matter if the subject is living or not.

For example, here are things and need:

That dish needs more salt.
Your walls need a fresh paint job.
The roads need to be salted.

Here are people and require:

I require that you put down your pens.
She is required to surrender herself to the police.
Do you require assistance?

Which word is used comes down to style, formality, and degree of obligation—as well as certain set phrases in certain contexts.

With the word question, either no other word needs to be used alongside it or you could also use more than just need or require:

Please answer the question.
It would be nice if you answered the question.
I am begging you to answer the question.
You must answer the question.
I demand you answer the question.
I need you to answer the question.
Answering the question is required.

Your first sentence is grammatical and natural:

✔ Several questions need to be answered.

Your second sentence is ungrammatical, but not because of the use of require. It's just the specific syntax it uses that's wrong:

✘ Several questions require to be answered.

→ ✔ Several questions are required to be answered.
→ ✔ Several questions require answers.